Feeler mechanism



June 3,1930.

R. CROMPTON ET AL 1,761,817

FEELER MECHANISM Filed April 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I nveniow's Rama 3% Crouapiou fliuzrles .Kiaoaulion a 01' M I y 57 231 5.

June 3, 1930.

R. CROMPTON ET AL Filed April 21. 1927 FEELER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 III Inventors.- Randoizuk l'romzaiou tiuzrles E Kuowlion i ffU N l Patented in... 3, 1930 nANnoLm-I. cRoMrTo or WORCESTER, AND CHARLES E. KNOWLTON, or GRAFTON,

A SAC USET ASSIG-NOB-S, BY DIRECT ANnivinsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To GROMIE- oN, I e, OF. BOSTON, MASsAcnUSETTs, A conronATioN or DELAWARE FEELER MECHANISM Application filed April 21,

The present invention relates to automatic weft replenishing looms, and more particu. larly 311118 toprovide improved means for bringing into operation the replenishing loom,'the rightside as illustrated, adjacent portions of the 100m frame being indicated in dotted line,'and theishuttle box and shuttle being in vertical section; I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, upon a larger scale, of the shuttle box and feeler mechanism, the front plateof the shuttle box and the bobbin chutebeing omitted for the sake of'clearness; v I p F ig. 3 is a detail view upon a still larger scale of the feeler mechanism proper, taken in verticalfsection through the'upper portion thereof;

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 f g? 1 I V Fig. 5 is asection upon a larger scale on the line 55 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6is a vertical section looking toward the left side of the loom andillustrating certain ,means controlled by the feeler mechanism. I

The filling feeler mechanism of our invention is adapted for use with various types of filling replenishing looms, and maybe employed in association with a shuttle boxat either side of theloom. It is particularly useful, however, in connection with drop box or color looms having a .single shuttle boxiat one side and a plurality of shifting shuttle boxes or cells at the other side. For the purpose of illustration we have herein shown the feeler asassociated with a single shuttle box at the right hand side of the loom, herein assumed to be the battery or replenishing side.

1 Referring more particularly tothe drawings, a portion of the loom frame herein the 1927. Serial No. 185,432.

right side frame, is indicated in dotted line at F. The lay is seen at 1 and the picker stick, which may be of any desired type, is shown at 2; see Fig. 1. .The shuttle box 3 appearsin vertical transverse section in Fig. 1 and in side elevation in Fig. 2, the front plate of the box having been removed in said latter figure. In the position of the parts illustrated a shuttle 4 containing a bobbin 5 has been received in the shuttle box.

The latter is equipped with the usualbobbin' chute 6, seen in Fig. 1, but omitted in Fig. 2 for the sake of clearness. The feeler mechanism is mounted upon a feeler post or upright 7, preferably of tubular construction, havingsecured'to its lower end a foot-piece 8 provided with a boss. 9 loose upon a pin 10, whereby'the feeler post can move with the lay. Said foot-piece is pivotally connected by said pin 10 to one end of acurvedlever' 11, the other end of which is secured to a stud shaft 12 journalled in a bracket 13 on the loom frame, Also fast upon said stud shaft is a fingerl l; having pivotally connected to its outer enda link 15, the opposite or upper endof which is pivotally attached to one endof-a two-arm lever 16, itself pivoted upon the 100m framingasat17,

At the other end of saidtwo-arm lever 16 is a cam roll 18 co operating with a cam .19 fast upon the cam shaft 20, which maybe the usual camshaft of the loom. Said cam is formed with a single depressed portion of relatively short extent as compared with its dwell portion, whereby the two-arm lever 16 will receive onerelatively quick and clearly defined actuation for each revolution of the cam shaft. A spring 21, one end of which is connected to'the'curved lever 11 and the other end-anchored upon the loom frame, tends constantly to move said curved lever 11 and the feeler post?- upwardly and also functions to keep the cam roll 18 in contact with thecam. As the depressed portion of the latter comes opposite the cam roll said spring 21 is permitted to move said lever 11 sharply upward, thus moving upwardly the feeler post 7. Y

At the upper extremity of the feeler post vis movable. I elongated sleeve-like body 28, see partnzu-v larly Figs. 2 and 35 which is pivotally con- 7 is secured a short rod or solid. portion 22 upon which the carrier for the feeler proper Sa1d carrier comprises an nected as at 24 to an arm 25, Fig. 2,- itself supported for pivotal movement as "at .26

upon a plate'27 adjustably secured to the shuttle box. 'Said armi25 has an extension "or finger 28 to theouter fendflof which is attached one end'of 'a spring 29 the other end of which is secured, preferably adjustably, to, a depending portion of the shuttle box, asa't 30. The feeler post is maintained in proper upright position and guided in its movement by said arm25; I

The feeler proper or feeler tip 31'is pivot ally mounted, asat 32, at the upperend of filling in the shuttle. The upper portion- :ofsaid fe'eler tip 31 is offset from its point I trated in FigsJQand 3 by'means of a spring the carrier body '23, the extremity of the teeler tip being roughened e l-serrated as indicated at 33' for engagement with the of pivotal support, and "is normally maintained in substantiallyfthe position illus- 3tin' a housing. 35 formed on the carrier 28, means such as the screw '36 preferably being provided to ailord adjustment cram spring tension. T A -de'pending finger ilTzis secured to the feeler tip and, in the normal position of the latter, abuts-the adjacent inner face of the carrierbody, 1 as illustrated in Fig. l3', "thus 'limi'tingmovement of "the 35 feeler in a counter-clockwisedirection as viewed in sai'd figure. Eltwill be understood that the feeler tip is constructed-and arranged to be passed up through the bottom of a boxed shuttle, and

to engage the filling carrier'or bobbin therev in. If atsuch time sufi icient filli'ngremains upon thefcarrier so that replenishment not 1 required, the serrated portion: of the feeler tip will engage said filling and be prevented f from? moving" or slipping length- W'ise of the shuttle. If, however, the filling is substantially exhausted the feeler tip will be caused to slip lengthwise the shuttle, moving in a clockwise direction about'itsfpivot 32, and -compressingfthespring 36. A lost-mot1onor sprlng connections preferably provided intermediatethe feelel post 7 and the feeler carrier 23, wh'ereby -when 'th'e feeler tip engages the filling and ispre Vented from slipping; the feeler. post may move upwardly-relative to the feeler carrier.

, Said means as illustrated includes a coil-- spring 38 surrounding a sleeve aaor insulating material through,,which the upper portionof the post, extends. Said spring bears at its upper end against a flange 40' on said sleeve,'-said flange engaging at its "upper face {the bottomportion-of the feeler 2 carrier, 23. At its lower end said springf88 rests upon a metal, washer 41, *see Fig. 2,-

insulated from the feeler post asby the insulating washer42 supportedjon the collar I i 43 adjustably 'secured to the feeler post. An insulating bushing'te preferably is pro vided at theiupperfaceo'f said metal washer 41, centering; the lower end of the spring A pin 45," secured in of the feeler post and, projecting;intoja slot '46 in thefeeler 'carrier 23"serive sas a stop ,to. limit .the motion of said feeler'carrier. r

post under the 1111111:

relative to the feeler enoe of the spring 38. 1

"Through the describedmechanism i connectionsthefeeler' post'and feeler at th 1 pp hereof; will be moved upwardly and preventing contact 'thereof*withv feeler post, i r I once for each time"v that-ashuttle enters the U l shuttle box at that side of the loom, this upward movement ofthe feeler postfbeing herein efiected by'thespring 21, previously mentioned; eachtimethe depressed portion of the cam 19' comes opposite the cam mu; 18. The spring 38 and associatedparts abovedescribed permit upwardrnovement offthe fe'fleler post relativelyfto the parts at its upper: end at times when -replenishmentis?not called. i I

tively. Such withdrawal should bring the In the form, unabated the "ca-111 19 wiuy Withdraw the li'eelerfrom the shuttle posi-Z' '95 feeler belo-w' the plane; of the :raee-plate' at the time iofthe pick-outf 'We 'preter'that thewith'drawal of the feeler bBj CO HtiHHGCl" until the" feeler is loelow the surface {of the bobbinflchute; "into what I may be called its" normal position. As clearlyshown in Fig.

1 the feelenwo'rks through a-suitable opening in the bobbin chuteor guided The slipping movement of the ieeler" tip 31 which occurs upon detection thereby'ol,

the needfor replenishment oit' the filling If 1" ofthe activeshuttle-then boxedi'is utilizedtionfiof the replenishing mechanism; r

finger 37 of the feeler, -upo'n detecting move ment of the latter; is movedtowardthe'left,I viewing said Fig. 3', and'ii to engagement" with afeo'ntact elementior screw 47 adjust- H ably positioned in a blockS ofuitable'iri' sulating material -on..the -feeler- 'c a'rrier'23; An electricalcondu'ctor 4E9 attaehedto said? Contact element 47- extends ,downwardly along said insulating block; preferably in groove50therein, see'Fig'. 51-, and is secured to the upper end ofthe spring 38, Said spring is'insulated from the'feeler postin the mannerpreviously described, and {in addition to its feeler "carrlersupporting tunei i 1130 tion forms a portion of the 'ele'ctrical circuit;

beingin contact. at its lower end with the metal washer 41. The latter'has connected to. it. an'insulated conductor 51 which is led down along and preferably interiorly of the feeler post, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and f5, andis .connectedatits lower end to a contact plate 52 attachedjto the feeler post foot-piece 8. through an intermediate insulating memconnected to it a conductor '56 which extends to the-electrical dev'icelabove mentioned, in this instance a magnet 57 herein positioned at the oppositeside of theloom; see Fig. 6. A. conductor58 returning from said magnet is, connected with. any suitable source of ele'ctro-motive supply, illustrated diagrammaticall'y. in Fig; 1 at 59, the other side of saidlsupplyfbeing in circuit with the feeler tip,throughthe conductor 60 grounded on the loom framing and thus electrically connected through therworking mechanism to the feeler tip 31. v I a 1 Said magnet controls any suitable means for turningthe usual-startingr'od 61 which serves to bring the replenishing mechanism into foperation in the well-known manner.

Herein for the purpose the armature 62 of the magnet, pivotedat one end upon the loom frame, as at 68, has attached to its otherend a lifter 64=contacting at its upper 7 end a latch 65 overlying the breast beam B with, its free'end resting upon said lifter.

a "Said latch is pivotally connected'to a lever 66 extending from the starting rod.

' Normally, when there is no call for replenishment, the'lifter occupies the position substantially as shown. In response to an indicating or slipping movement of the 'feelertip 3l'the' circuit is closed at the contact element 47, the contact plate 52 and the,

spring finger 54 being then also in engagement, and the magnet 57 is engaged, lifting the latch 65 to bring its free end into the path of a dog 67 at the upper end of a lever 68 pivotally supported as at 68 The other end of said lever is provided with a follower .68"; cooperating with a cam 69 on a suitable cam shaft, herein-the usual cam shaft 20.

" By saidmeans'th'e dog 67 receives a forward movement for each pick and, when the latch 65 has been lifted in response to a call for replenishment, ,will pick up said latch and impart 'a counter-clockwise turning movement to the starting rod 61, bringing the replenishing mechanism into operation. Said movement of the latch and starting rod by the lever' 68 preferably occurs as the lay 1 starts back from front center. An adjustablestop -66 desirably is provided on the lever 66 and taking against the breast beam, properly to position the latch and for timing purposes. I c

As previously stated the feeler is preferably withdrawn below the bobbin chute, being then clear of the path of the spent or substantially exhausted bobbin when the latter is discharged. In case a change or replenishment of filling is indicated it is' desirable positivelyto retain the feeler in its said position below the bobbin chute during the replenishing or transfer 'operation. Accordingly we desirably provide suitable means to hold or look the feeler mechanism in said depressed position Referring particularly to Fig. l, we have illustrated for this purpose a lug 70 projecting laterally from the curved lever 11 and adapted to be engaged by a projection 7l on a locking lever or dog 7 72 pivotally supported as at 7 3 upon a fixed part, herein the bracket 13 previously mentioned. Said dog has pivotally connected to it at 74 a link 75 which is yieldingly attached at its upper,

end,by means of a block 76, the spring 77,

and the collar 7 8,-to an arm 79 projecting from the starting rod 61. Said collar 78 carries a pin 80, pivotally engaged with said arm 79,- the downward movement of. said collar, which is slidable upon the link 75, being limited by an adjustable stop 81 upon said link.

Upon a call for transfer or replenishment by the feeler the starting rod is actuated in the manner previously described, turning ina counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Said turning of the starting rod raises the arm 79 and with it the link 75,.

bringing the dog 72, which normally lies below andout of the path of the lug 70 on the curved lever 11, up against said lug. As the curved lever 11 and lug 7 O thereon move down during the withdrawal of the feeler said lug will ride under the projection 71, which latter snaps over into holding position above the. lug, by reason of the provision of the spring 77. Saiddog thus serves to lock the feeler mechanism in depressed position until subsequently released by an opposite turning movement of the starting rod after replenishment or transfer has been completed. 1

From the foregoing it will be understood that the feeler mechanism described operates through the usual bottom opening of the shuttle. No special opening in the side of the shuttle is necessitated, so that the shuttle is in nowise weakened, as it would be by such side opening. Moreover, no special construction of the shuttle or bobbin, such as the provision of electric contact elementsor other. special parts, is required, thus per operate succes'sively any plurality of shuttles used in a given Weaving operation.

Our invention is not limited; to the par-i "ticular embodiment "thereof herein, shown :and described, its scope being set forth in the following claims." a -i Claims 1:111 an automatic Weft-replenishing loom having atone end thereof a magazine or' battery of freshweft supplies, in fcoinbina; tion'vvith a shuttle box at lsaid endofthe loom, a feeler adapted to enter through thebottom'of the active shuttlewhen'in said box] to detectsubstantial eXhaustionof its" filling, spring means to effect the feeling movement of said feeler, cam operated mechanism to battery of fresh weftsup p'liesfin combination -25 a means adapted to feelfthro'ugh the bottom of theactive shuttle when in said'box' to Withdraw said feeler prior to the next pickout of the shuttle, andmeans eifective upendetection by said feeler to lock the latter against a further feelingmovement until replenishment hasoccurred. I I 2. In an automatic Weft replenishmg loom having at one end thereof afmagazine ,or

with ashuttle b'oX at'said end of the loom,

detect substantial exhaustion. of its filling, mechanism apart from the layto nsert and to Withdravv said feeler means, and. means.

to prevent "'reinserti'on ofsaid feeler means duringlreplenishment. 7v v f a 3. In a Weft-replenishing loom, inicombiiiation Wli l1 "a shuttle having a bottom opening, feeler means operable through the shuttle bottom to" detect 7 existence of that condition of the eftsupply upon which replenishment' is predicated, and 3 means brought into action thereby to institute transfer of fresh Weft into the shuttle, said feeler meansfcomprising a" lifter rod pivoted to swing With the lay, a feeler carrier-at the upper end of said rodfand having afeeler' proper pivoted thereon, spring neanstending to elevate 'sald 'ro d andfeeler carrier,

cam means vpositively to Withdraw jan d hold Ydown said rod but permitting said spring elevating means to, f functionrperiodically, and a lost-motion connection between said feeler carrier and saidlifter rod allowing the latter tomove upwardly relatively to the carrier at theupper limit of the carrier movement.

4:."In a Weft-re lenishin loom in com -starting rod, a magnetic device means gov- V erne'd thereby to cause operation "of said starting-rod moving "means, means independent of the shuttletand/or the bobbin ivhe'reby said "detecting movement of the permitting it "to resume-operation.

:feeler operates: aid J device" and means actuatedby the start ingfrod in in e stituting a transfer to rendersaid feelerink operative during saidtransferbut thereafter J m 5. In a loom equipped with; replenishing mechanism to supply a fresh "Weft" carrier to theactiveshuttle through the top thereof and todischarge'the spent Weft f'carrici' through the shuttle bottom, in combination With a shuttle box at one end of the lay; and

a-starting ii'od for instituting operation 'of the replenishing f mechanism, a 'vveft feeler',

mechanism'operable each tiinefa;'shuttle' is "j received-in said bOXjtO cause said v feeler 7 to enter 'said shuttle through the'bottorn j: thereofandto Withdraw it priorf-to the next picking of'said shuttle, said j feeler "having a portion actuated as the result' of detection thereby; of a the need for replenishment, mechanim v to move the starti Tod. t c

replenishment, means whereby s aid 'detecting actuation of said feeler portion cause's said .starting 'rod4noving mechanism ,to function, and means actuated by sald replenishment calling movement of the starting i rod; to lock the feelerin Withdrawn position i i during replenishment 6. In a loom equippedfvvith replenishing, mechanism to Supply a-freshiweft'. carrier" to the active shuttlethrough the "top there? throi'igh' the shuttle bottom, -in combination With a. shuttle 'box'at-one end "of the; lay, a, starting rod for instituting operation of the replenishing mechanism and means to of and to discharge the spent weft carrier move; said starting" rod, ja 'vveft feeler movable intofandout ofaboxedshuttle through the'bottom thereof, mechanism so ftomove saidfeeler each time 'a' shuttleis; received in said b'oX,j said feelerfhaving a portion actuated as the result of detection thereby ,of the need for replenishment,andi mecha 7 n ni'smcontrolled' by saidfdetecting actuation of i the 'feeler; to render said means 'f'orjmovin'g the starting rod operative or inoperative, including aflatch positionable operatively to connect the starting" rod and 1 its moving means but linormally inoperative, a magnet orthe liketo position said latch and con-f nectionsQbetvveen said magnet and said "feelerportion.- I

7. In a loom:equipped vvith{replenishing mechanism to supply alfresh Weft} carrier Q. to the active "shuttle through the topthereof and to discharge the spent Weft'. carrier through theshuttle bottom, in combination Qvvith a'shuttle bo atone'end'ofthe'lay, and

astarting rod for Ijefiecting'action of the re plenishing mechanism; alweft feeler 'sup ported for movement through'thejshuttle bottom into "'and'out of a shuttle in said box, :mechanism tocaus'e the feeler "soto' enter each shuttle upon its reception in said box and to Withdraw it prior to the next picking of the shuttle, said feelerhaving a portion actuated as the result of detection thereby of the need for replenishment, mechanism tomove the starting rod to call replenishment in response to said detecting actuation of said feeler portion, and

1 means operatively connected with said starting rod to hold said feeler out of the path tom thereof and to withdraw it prior tov the next picking of said shuttle, said feeler having a portion actuated as the result of detection thereby ofthe need for replenishment, cam controlled means to operate said starting rod and having a normally inoperative position, means whereby said detecting actuation of said feeler portion renders said cam controlled means operative, and means controlled by the starting rod in a replenishment-instituting operation thereof to render said feeler operating mechanism inoperative during replenishment.

9. In a weft-replenishing loom, in com bination with-a shuttle adapted to receive a I bobbin through its top and to discharge the same through its bottom, a shuttle-box adapted to receive said shuttle, and means to feel through the bottom of the shuttle a when in said box to indicate requirement of weftreplenishment, said means comprising Ha lifter pivotally supported for swinging movement with the layv and having a feeler at its upper end, spring means adapted to raise said lifter to enter its feeler through .the shuttle bottom, and cam means acting positively to depress said lifter but periodically permitting said spring means to function. I

110;"In a weft-replenishing loom, in combinationwith a shuttle adapted to receive feel through the bottom of the shuttle when v in said-box to indicate a requirement of weft 76,0, 7 movement with the lay and having a feeler a bobbin'through its top and to discharge permitting said spring means to function, and other means actuated as a result of an indication for replenishment to lock down said lifter during the subsequent transfer operation.

11. In a weft-replenishing loom, in combination with a shuttle, a device acting through the shuttle bottom to feel for the condition of the filling supply therein, operating means for said device including a spring lifter and a cam depresser, normally inactive transfer mechanism, connections whereby said feeler device renders said transfer mechanism operative upon detection of filling depletion, and means cooperating with said operating means of the feeler device to render the latter inoperative during the transfer operation.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

RANDOLPH, CROMPTON. CHARLES E. KN OWLTOT.

the same through its bottom, a shuttle-box adapted, to receive said shuttle, means to replenishment, said means comprising a lifter" pivotally supported for swinging at its upper end, spring means adapted to raise said lifter to enter its feeler through the shuttle bottom, cam means acting positively to depress said lifter but periodically 

